Amateur-built RV-8 accident near Goldsboro, North Carolina, March 9, 2005
On March 9, 2005 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-8, registered N187WS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goldsboro, North Carolina (Cox - Grantham Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive braking during landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over. A factor was the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2005 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Goldsboro, North Carolina · Cox - Grantham Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-8
- Registration
- N187WS · no longer on the register · serial 80615
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he entered a left downwind for runway 03 and the windsock showed light to moderate winds. The pilot performed a wheels-landing touchdown, and during the landing roll at approximately 60 to 65 knots, the tail of the airplane lifted. The pilot stated he applied full aft stick, but the tail continued to rise, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot, who was the builder of the airplane, reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. He stated he completed a modification to the rudder pedals a few days earlier, and the change allowed his feet to sit higher on the pedals. He stated he believed he unintentionally applied light brake pressure during the touchdown and landing roll. A review of recorded weather data from Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro, North Carolina, located 11 nautical miles east of the accident site, revealed at 1355 reported winds were from 240 degrees at 9 knots, variable between 190 and 290 degrees.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 304 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 215 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGWW Goldsboro NC at 6:10 pm
- Destination: Goldsboro NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KGSB, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.